In four professional seasons, including two as a starter, Shaun Phillips has established his own identity as an elite pass rusher. Phillips finished the 2007 season with 8.5 sacks to run his career total to 31. His athleticism and explosive first step off the ball make it difficult for opposing offensive linemen to get their hands on the 6-3, 262-pound linebacker.



Phillips prides himself on being a complete player and his 2007 highlight reel would speak to that. While he thrives on getting to the quarterback, Shaun is adept at stopping the run. He also has a keen eye for the football and last season, recorded the first two interceptions of his career. Both picks came after Phillips got in the quarterback’s face and tipped the ball to himself. His first interception came against Peyton Manning and proved to be a crucial play in Chargers’ nationally televised Nov. 11 win over the Colts. His second was against Detroit’s Jon Kitna on a play in which after securing the ball, he raced 18 yards for his first career touchdown.



During his first two years in the NFL, Phillips thrived on special teams and had an impact as a situational pass rusher. Then prior to the 2006 season, he was thrust into the starting lineup after Steve Foley was lost for the season. Phillips excelled in his new starting role and racked up a career-high 11.5 sacks, earning himself a nod as a second-alternate to the AFC Pro Bowl squad. The Chargers rewarded Phillips for his outstanding play with a new six-year contract in February 2007.



Phillips and teammate Shawne Merriman have proven to be a potent combination. In 2006, they became the first pair of Bolts to record at least 11 sacks in the same season since Leslie O’Neal and Chris Mims did it in 1994. The Chargers and Baltimore Ravens were the only teams in the league to feature two players that recorded at least 11 sacks that season. Phillips and Merriman led the Chargers to 61 sacks in 2006, one shy of the team record and among all NFL linebackers, Merriman and Phillips ranked 1-2 in the NFL in sacks.



Shaun enjoys bowling, basketball, movies and traveling. He has a unique celebration following each of his sacks, rolling an imaginary bowling ball toward a set of pins. He does so as a tribute to his grandmother, Jackie, who used to be a professional bowler. As far as travels, his favorite cities to visit are New York, Miami and Las Vegas. Shaun also spends as much time as he can at home with his son, Jaylen. He understands the importance of spending time with Jaylen after having grown up in a single-parent home and being raised by his mother, Sherri. Shaun resides in San Diego and used to share a home with teammate Luis Castillo. When Phillips earned a new contract last February, he purchased his own home, but he and Castillo remain close friends.



Phillips earned a degree in management from Purdue. He is the first member of his family to graduate from college. In April 2006, he enrolled in the NFL’s Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. The four-day program focused on developing and selling a brand and evaluating franchise opportunities. He attended the program with Castillo, who is a Northwestern grad.

Shaun is one among many Chargers who are active in the community. Last December, he and teammate Quentin Jammer hosted a group of homeless students from the San Pasqual Academy to a Christmas Dinner at Peohe’s Restaurant in Coronado. The Academy is a first-of-its-kind residential education campus designed specifically for foster teens. And each June, Shaun returns to his hometown of Willingboro, New Jersey to co-host a youth football camp with fellow NFL stars and Willingboro natives Wali Lundy of the Houston Texans and Kareem McKenzie of the New York Giants.